Hypopituitarism Treatment in Land O Lakes, FL

If you're struggling with chronic fatigue, joint stiffness, low libido, anemia or infertility you may have hypopituitarism, a progressive pituitary gland disorder that disrupts hormone levels. It can also stunt children's growth.

Your pituitary gland is located at the base of your brain. This gland secretes hormones that affect nearly every part of your body. Hypo is Greek for "below normal" – hypopituitarism is the underproduction of one or more hormones by the pituitary gland.

It's rarely fatal and symptoms can usually be managed successfully with multiple treatments which affect individuals differently depending on age, genetics, severity of condition, general health, and other environmental factors. To speak with a hypopituitarism specialist today in Land O Lakes, call (813) 435-5828 or contact Robert Hannum online.

What are the symptoms of hypopituitarism?

Because your pituitary gland secretes hormones that perform a vast array of bodily functions, hypopituitarism can cause a wide variety of symptoms that either appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. These include:

hot flashes, irregular or no periods, loss of pubic hair, and low or absent milk production (in women)

decreased facial or body hair (in men)

Symptoms also vary widely depending which hormones are deficient and how severe your deficiency is. As they may be subtle or similar to symptoms of a different medical condition, hypopituitarism can be overlooked for a long time.

luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): control fertility in both sexes and the secretion of sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries in women and testosterone from the testes in men)

growth hormone (GH): required for growth in childhood and has effects on the entire body throughout life.

prolactin (PRL): required for breast feeding

oxytocin: required during labor and delivery and for lactation and breast feeding

antidiuretic hormone (also known as vasopressin)

Hypopituitarism can be genetic (enzymatic disorder of the thyroid) or acquired through chronic iodine deficiency, autoimmune disorder, TRH deficiency or a hypothalamic lesion. The most common causes include:

hemochromatosis causing excess iron to collect in your liver or other tissues

Diseases of the hypothalamus - a part of your brain located just above your pituitary gland - can also cause hypopituitarism because this part of your brain produces hormones that affect your pituitary function.

How is hypopituitarism diagnosed?

Hypopituitarism may involve the loss of one, several or all of the pituitary hormones. So determining which hormone or hormones are deficient and need to be replaced requires a thorough evaluation.

Your healthcare provider will usually diagnose hypopituitarism by doing physical examination to diagnose or rule out any underlying medical conditions causing your symptoms. He or she will discuss your current health and family medical history and ask whether you've experienced a head injury or are undergoing radiation therapy.

Hypopituitarism is usually confirmed by a number of tests, such as:

blood test: to measure your sex hormones and hormones produced by your thyroid and adrenal glands

stimulation testing: to check your body's hormone secretion after you take certain medications that stimulate hormone production

somatropin: a synthetic version of peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell production and regeneration; potential side effects include vision changes, numbness, swelling, high blood sugar, weight loss, stomach pain and vomiting

Tumor treatment

If you have developed a pituitary tumor, surgery to remove it is usually the first step. In many cases, your healthcare provider will also recommend radiation.

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Although hypopituitarism is rare, it's common enough to be of medical concern. It can't be cured outright, but hypopituitarism can usually be managed with medications and other treatment approaches that may help stabilize your hormones, reduce or eliminate your symptoms, and improve your quality of life.